MELBOURNE- An Australian prosecutor on Friday has withdrawn a single charge against Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric to face a sex prosecution.
The Australian cardinal, a 76 year old will appear in a Melbourne court on Monday, where Pell was once a archbishop, will appear in a month long preliminary hearing to establish whether the prosecutors have enough or sufficient evidence to warrant a jury trial against the cardinal.
Prosecutor Mark Gibson told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday that one charge had been withdrawn.
Details of the charges have not been disclosed to the public but the police have described them “historical” sexual assaults, meaning they are alleged to have happened decades ago.
The possible sentences have also not been made public.
Pell has said through his lawyers he will put up a strong fight against the charges and intends to continue his work as the church prefect economy ministry once the case is finalised.
Photo Credit- Al Jazeera
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